Saudi civil defence issues warning for Makkah

Saudi Civil Defence on Thursday issued a series of alerts including for Makkah City, home to Islam's holiest site, in warnings that usually indicate a potential missile threat.

"A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger," it said, with separate warnings for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taef, Jeddah and Tabuk regions.

UAE bars flights by Iran's airlines

Iranian media said on Thursday that the United Arab Emirates had suspended flights operated by Iran's airlines, to comply with US sanctions.

"All flights by Iranian airlines to the United Arab Emirates have been cancelled since midnight," the ISNA news agency said.

An Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was cancelled shortly before its scheduled departure in the morning, after tickets had been issued, one passenger told AFP.